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BHS Volleyball Team Aiming for Another Playoff Berth

The 2022 girls’ volleyball team at Bellingham High hopes to be competing in post-season play.

By KEN HAMWEY, 
Staff Sports Writer
Tournament berths have become a standard operating procedure for the Bellingham High girls’ volleyball team. 

 Steve Mantegani is in his seventh season as the girls’ volleyball coach at Bellingham High.

Coach Steve Mantegani, who’s guided the squad to four tourney berths in six years, is hoping his seventh season at the helm will produce a fifth straight playoff appearance.
At the Bulletin’s deadline (Oct. 15), BHS had a 4-10 record, numbers that seem like a longshot for earning a tourney invitation. Last year, however, the Blackhawks qualified with a 3-17 record, benefitting from a new power-ranking system that gives weight to strength of schedule and margin of victory/defeat.
“The goals we set at the start of the season were to qualify for the playoffs, to be competitive in the Tri Valley League’s Small Division, and to continue to improve in matches and in practice,’’ said Mantegani, who was a two-time all-star in volleyball at Milford High. “Another tourney berth is realistic, because we’ve got enough talent and our league is one of the most competitive in the state. Last year, eight TVL schools qualified for the playoffs.’’
The 51-year-old Mantegani, who also was a sectional champion in wrestling at Milford, is optimistic about a fifth tourney berth because of his team’s strengths. “We’ve got nine players who’ve got varying degrees of experience,’’ he said. “Our volleyball IQs are high, our ball control is good, and we’re athletic. Also, our technical skills are sound and the players are very coachable.’’
Mantegani’s squad is young and he knows his team’s experience level will be better in the years ahead. But he likes the team’s depth and labels it a plus because of his squad’s versatility. “If our talent and team chemistry can blend, we should be in line for a tourney berth.’’
Bellingham’s captains are good examples of talented, team-first players. They include senior Carly Larose (right-side hitter) and juniors Ciara Crayton (outside hitter/middle hitter) and Ari Elster (setter).
“Carly has a high volleyball IQ, she can jump and gets timely kills,’’ Mantegani said. “A quality captain, she leads by example and makes few mistakes on the court. Ciara is athletic, blocks and attacks well, has a great work ethic and leads by example. Ari has good hands, sets well by moving the ball to the hitters and is solid on defense. She’s an effective server who has a high volleyball IQ.’’
Four seniors who bring a variety of strengths to the table include Olivia Sullivan (middle hitter), Hannah Casey (outside hitter), Rena McFall (right-side hitter), and Emma Clinton (setter).
“Olivia is tall, and she hits and blocks well,’’ Mantegani said. “Hannah plays solid defense, and she can pass. Very consistent, she makes few mistakes. Rena is tall at 5-11, she’s a strong blocker who can hit hard. Emma is quick, never gives up, is athletic and sets capably to the outside hitters.’’
Two top-notch sophomores in key roles are Maya Jackson (outside hitter) and Taylor Callery (setter).
“Maya is a two-time TVL all-star,’’ Mantegani said. “A 5-foot-9 hitter, she’s athletic, a fine passer who moves quickly, and she’s got a high volleyball IQ. She’s our No. 1 hitter and blocker. Taylor has missed some matches because of a back injury. She’s tall at 5-9, has good hands, works hard and is a smart player who has club experience.’’
The two freshmen on the roster are Jacobi Houston (setter) and Valerie Nolan (outside hitter). “Jacobi is very athletic, quick to the ball, has strong hands and is a great server,’’ Mantegani noted. “Valerie is a very good passer, an adept defender, and her hitting is improving.’’

A pair of talented eighth-graders — Mia Milani (middle hitter) and Sophia Soto (libero) — are not only assets for the future, but they’re also in the mix for playing time. 
“Mia is very athletic, and at 5-foot-9, she jumps and hits effectively,’’ said Mantegani. “She works hard in practice and is learning the game quickly. Sophia is our best passer, and she’s a great jump server. She competes with a lot of energy.’’
It’s been said that injuries are part of the game. They are, but it’s unfortunate that 5-foot-9 junior Kateri Ducharme, a middle hitter who’s recovering from a torn ACL, will miss the entire season. She was a TVL all-star last year as a sophomore. 
“Kateri is a good hitter and a great defender who was our best blocker,’’ Mantegani emphasized. “She’s been to practice every day, and I believe she’ll be back as a senior and compete in spectacular fashion.’’ 
Mantegani has a wealth of athletic knowledge and experience. After a successful career in volleyball and wrestling at Milford High, he enrolled at the University of Southern California where he played club volleyball and majored in exercise and sports sciences. He later earned a master’s degree in physical therapy at the University of Delaware.
A native of Marlboro, he’s coached club volleyball and also was an assistant coach for two years at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. He also served as an assistant at Holy Cross for a year. He works as vice president of operations for Select Medical, a health-care corporation.
Mantegani relies on a coaching philosophy that emphasizes developing skills and passion for volleyball. “If those two things are in the mix along with working hard in practice, then winning will be the by-product,’’ he said. “And, there’s valuable life lessons that my players can learn from athletics, like how to be a quality teammate, how to overcome challenges and adverse situations, and that you have to earn everything.’’
Steve Mantegani’s volleyball teams have learned their lessons in a productive way. If the COVID-19 year is excluded and his current BHS squad gets a tourney invite, then it will mark five straight seasons of playoff volleyball for the Blackhawks. 
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